Artificial neural network-based software tool for calculating the lightning performance of high-voltage transmission lines

An artificial neural network (ANN) is addressed for evaluating the lightning performance of high-voltage transmission lines. Several structures, learning algorithms and transfer functions were tested to produce a model with the best generalising ability. Actual input and output data, collected from operational Hellenic high-voltage transmission lines, were used in the training, validation and testing process. The method is coded in a comprehensive software program to be used by electric power utilities as a useful tool for the design of electric power systems, as an alternative to the conventional analytical methods. The aims of the paper are to describe in detail the proposed ANN method and the developed software tool and to present the results obtained by its application to operational Hellenic transmission lines of 150kV and 400kV. The ANN tool's results are compared with results produced from a conventional method and real records of outage rate showing a quite satisfactory agreement.